Welcome to the 36th Blair Atholl Jamborette. Failure is the opportunity to begin again, more intelligently. - Henry Ford

Transcription

1 Welcome to the 36th Blair Atholl Jamborette And welcome to the first edition of this camp s - formerly known as the Bog Sheet We hope that these provide you with daily stimulation giving you food for thought, a smile, a challenge, and maybe all three. Feel free to capture each edition with a photo on your phone. They will also be available for download after the camp. Enjoy taking Time to Think. Who knows what this might lead to... The Language that has no barriers. A smile :-) A smile costs nothing, but gives much. It enriches those who receive, without making poorer those who give. It takes a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever. None is so rich or mighty that they can get along without it, and none is so poor, but that they can be made rich by it. A smile creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in business, and is the countersign of friendship. It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and it is nature s best antidote for trouble. Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone, until it is given away. Some people are too tired to give you a smile; Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give. Always be a first rate version of yourself, and not a second rate version of someone else Judy Garland Thank you to everyone for the hard work over the past few days getting the site prepared for today s arrival of the Scottish Scouts. Should any leader have some spare time, why not go to a Subcamp and give the Scouts a hand, so we're all ready to give our overseas Guests a great welcome tomorrow! This is as light as a feather, yet no man can hold it for long. What am I? The Pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The Optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty. Failure is the opportunity to begin again, more intelligently. - Henry Ford

2 Sand or Stone? A story tells that two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand Today my best friend slapped me in the face. They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him. After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone Today my best friend saved my life. The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why? The other friend replied When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it. What starts with "e," ends with "e," and contains one letter? If you are planning for a year, sow rice. If you are planning for a decade, plant trees. If you are planning for a lifetime, educate people. - Chinese proverb A message from the Chief Commissioner of Scotland. On behalf of Scottish Scouting can I offer you a warm welcome to Scotland, to Blair Atholl and to the 36 th Scottish International Patrol Jamborette. Blair Atholl continues to go from strength to strength. This year is the biggest ever Blair Atholl. We have more Scouts from Scotland and from overseas than ever before. Wherever you are from in the world, you are most welcome here in the beautiful hills of Highland Perthshire. Make the most of your time together. Share stories and learn about each other s lives and cultures. Blair Atholl will work its magic on each one of you. Enjoy the camp. Graham Haddock Blessed are those who laugh at themselves for they shall never fail to be amused.

3 The Mayonnaise Jar and Two Cups of Coffee A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes." The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. "Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things -- your God, family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favourite passions -- things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else -- the small stuff. If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to look after your health. Take your partner out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house. Take care of the golf balls first -- the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand." One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend." People who think they are crazy enough to change the world, are the ones that do. What has many keys, but can't even open a single door? When you see something beautiful in someone, tell them. It may take a second to say, but for them it could last a lifetime. Always remember you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.

4 The 50 Pound Note A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a 50 note in a room of people, and asked Who would like this money? Hands started to go up. She said I am going to give this 50 note to one of you, but first let me do this She proceeded to crumple the note up. Then she asked, Who still wants it? Hands went up again. Well, she replied, What if I do this?... And she dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. She picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. Now who still wants it? she asked. Hands shot up. My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth 50 Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled and ground into the dirt, by the decisions we make, and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. Dirty...clean, crumpled or finely creased...you are still priceless to those who love you. If you make listening and observation your occupation you will gain much more than you can by talk. Robert Baden-Powell Tall I am young, Short I am old, While with life I glow, Wind is my foe. What am I? Take one day at a time. Today, after all, is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.

5 If you think you re too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito. The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is so often just simply that little word - extra. And for me, I had always grown up with the belief that if someone succeeds it is because they are brilliant or talented or just better than me and the more of these words I heard the smaller I always felt! But the truth is often very different and for me to learn that ordinary me can achieve something extra-ordinary by giving that little bit extra, when everyone else gives up, meant the world to me and I really clung to it Bear Grylls When you go out into the woods and you look at trees, you see all these different trees. And some of them are bent and some of them are straight. Some of them are evergreens and some of them are whatever. And you look at the tree and you accept it. You see why it is the way it is. You sort of understand that it didn t get enough light and so it turned that way. And you don t get emotional about it. You just allow it. You appreciate the tree. The minute you get near humans you lose all that. And you are constantly saying: You are too this, or I m too this. That judging mind comes in. So practice turning people into trees. Which means appreciating them just the way they are. Blair Atholl Welcomes the World! This weekend we welcome Scouts and Leaders to our Satellite Camp. Together with Staff and Explorer Scouts already on the main camp, we now have representatives from 21 countries here at Blair Atholl! So a huge welcome to you all! How many nationalities can you meet? Look out for Australia, Austria, Barbados, Canada, Denmark, Ecuador, England, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands and the United States of America. Smiles are contagious. So go forth and contaminate as many people as you can!

6 A message from the Chief Commissioner of Scotland. Today is my final day as Chief Commissioner of Scotland. After seven years, it is time to pass on the responsibility for leading Scotland s Scouts to Andrew Sharkey, Blair Atholl Camp Chief, who will become Chief Commissioner today. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to lead Scouts Scotland and to see Scouting flourish in that time. I have made many friends and witnessed high quality Scouting in action across the country. I have no doubt that Scouting s future in Scotland is in safe hands. I hope you will take the opportunity to wish Andrew well in taking on his new role. Graham Haddock Count your Blessings If you have food in your fridge, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of the world. If you have money in your wallet and some spare change, you are among the top 8% of the world s wealthy. If you woke up this morning with more health than illness you are more blessed than the million people who will not survive this week. If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the agony of imprisonment or torture, or the horrible pangs of starvation, you are luckier than the 500 million people alive and suffering. Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Stephen Hawking If you can read this message you are more fortunate than the 3 billion people in the world who cannot read at all. Be who you are and say what you feel. Because those who mind don t matter, and those that matter don t mind.

7 Who is the Happiest? A crow lived in the forest and was absolutely satisfied in life. But one day he saw a swan. This swan is so white, he thought, and I am so black. This swan must be the happiest bird in the world. He expressed his thoughts to the swan. Actually, the swan replied, I was feeling that I was the happiest bird around until I saw a parrot, which has two colors. I now think the parrot is the happiest bird in creation. The crow then approached the parrot. The parrot explained, I lived a very happy life until I saw a peacock. I have only two colors, but the peacock has multiple colors. The crow then visited a peacock in the zoo and saw that hundreds of people had gathered to see him. After the people had left, the crow approached the peacock. Dear peacock, the crow said, you are so beautiful. Every day thousands of people come to see you. When people see me, they immediately shoo me away. I think you are the happiest bird on the planet. The peacock replied, I always thought that I was the most beautiful and happy bird on the planet. But because of my beauty, I am entrapped in this zoo. I have examined the zoo very carefully, and I have realized that the crow is the only bird not kept in a cage. So for past few days, I have been thinking that if I were a crow, I could happily roam everywhere. There will always be someone who will have more or less than you have. The person who is satisfied with what he/she has, is the happiest person in the world. A Story for Everyone Once upon a time, there were four people; their names were Everybody, Somebody, Nobody and Anybody. Whenever there was an important job to be done, Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. When Nobody did it, Everybody got angry because it was Everybody s job. Everybody thought that Somebody would do it, but Nobody realized that Nobody would do it. So consequently Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done in the first place. Which Body are you? Everyone is getting tired. We re halfway through the camp. What can you do today that could give this story a happier ending? Do not take life too seriously. You ll never get out of it alive.

8 Change the way you look at things and the things you look at change. If a young person... If a young person lives with criticism, they learn to condemn. Never argue with stupid people. They will draw you down to their level and then beat you with experience. If a young person lives with hostility, they learn to fight. If a young person lives with ridicule, they learn to be shy. If a young person lives with shame, they learn to feel guilty. If a young person lives with tolerance, they learn to be patient. If a young person lives with encouragement, they learn confidence. If a young person lives with praise, they learn to appreciate. If a young person lives with fairness, they learn justice. What kind of coat is always wet when you put it on? If you are working on something exciting that you really care about, you don t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you. - Steve Jobs If a young person lives with security, they learn to have faith. If a young person lives with approval, they learn to like themselves. If a young person lives with acceptance and friendship, they learn to find love in the world. Love is always at the service of others. Because love is seen in actions, not words. Pope Francis

9 The Reflection of your Actions A man and his son were going through the forest hills. Suddenly, the boy fell down on the trail and screamed with a pain, Aah! Surprisingly, he heard the same voice from the mountain, Aah! Curiously, the boy shouted, Who is this? But the voice replied the same, Who is this? He got angry, and shouted again, You are stupid! And again the voice replied the same, You are stupid! Annoyed by this, the boy asked his father, Father, what is going on? Who is this? The Father replied, Son, pay attention. The father shouted, You are very nice. And the voice responded the same, You are very nice! The father again shouted, Thank you. And the voice again responded the same, Thank you! The son was very surprised but he still could not understand what was happening. The father explained, Son, people call it resonance, but this is the truth of the life. The life is a reflection of your actions. What you will give to others, you will receive the same in return. You have me today, Tomorrow you'll have more; As your time passes, I'm not easy to store; I don't take up space, But I'm only in one place; I am what you saw, But not what you see. What am I? Even if you fall on your face, you're still moving forward. In the end, it s the years in your life that count. It s the life in your years. Different Individuals Valuing Each other Regardless of Skin Intellect Talents or Years A bed is a magical place where you suddenly remember everything you forgot to do. Don t let yesterday take up too much of today.

10 The Value of Life A little boy went to his old grandpa and asked, "What's the value of life?" The grandpa gave him one stone and said, "Find out the value of this stone, but don't sell it." The boy took the stone to an Orange Seller and asked him what its cost would be. The Orange Seller saw the shiny stone and said, "You can take 12 oranges and give me the stone." The boy apologised and said that the grandpa has asked him not to sell it. He went ahead and found a vegetable seller. "What could be the value of this stone?" he asked the vegetable seller. The seller saw the shiny stone and said, "Take one sack of potatoes and give me the stone." The boy again apologised and said he can't sell it. Further ahead, he went into a jewellery shop and asked the value of the stone. The jeweller saw the stone under a lens and said, "I'll give you 1 million for this stone." When the boy shook his head, the jeweller said, "Alright, alright, take two 24 carat gold necklaces, but give me the stone." The boy explained that he can't sell the stone. Further ahead, the boy saw a precious stone's shop and asked the seller the value of this stone. When the precious stone's seller saw the big ruby, he lay down a red cloth and put the ruby on it. Then he walked in circles around the ruby and bent down and touched his head in front of the ruby. "From where did you bring this priceless ruby from?" he asked. "Even if I sell the whole world, and my life, I won't be able to purchase this priceless stone." Stunned and confused, the boy returned to the grandpa and told him what had happened. "Now tell me what is the value of life, grandpa?" Grandpa said, "The answers you got from the Orange Seller, the Vegetable Seller, the Jeweller & the Precious Stone's Seller explain the value of our life.. You may be a precious stone, even priceless, but, people will value you based on their intellectual status, their level of information, their belief in you, their motive behind entertaining you, their ambition, their risk taking ability & ultimately their calibre. So don't fear, you will surely find someone who will discern your true value." You ve gotta dance like there s nobody watching. I ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. - Maya Angelou A rich man is nothing but a poor man with money.

11 The Scout Hymn Now as I start upon my chosen way, In all I do, my thoughts,. my work, my play, Grant as I promise, Courage new for me To be the best, the best that I can be. Help me to keep my Honour shining bright, My I be Loyal in the hardest fight Let me be able for my Task, and then, To earn a place among my fellow men. Open mine eyes to see things as I should, That I may do my daily turn of good, Let me be ready, waiting for each need To keep me clean in thought and word and deed. Now as I start upon my chosen way, In all I do, my thoughts,. my work, my play, Grant as I promise, Courage new for me To be the best, the BEST that I can be. Answers This is as light as a feather, yet no man can hold it for long. What am I? Your breath What starts with "e," ends with "e," and contains one letter? An envelope What has many keys, but can't even open a single door? A piano Tall I am young, Short I am old, While with life I glow, Wind is my foe. What am I? A candle What kind of coat is always wet when you put it on? A coat of paint You have me today, Tomorrow you'll have more; As your time passes, I'm not easy to store; I don't take up space, But I'm only in one place; I am what you saw, But not what you see. What am I? Memories Be careful when you follow the masses. Sometimes the M is silent. Knowledge and wisdom There is a difference between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit not a vegetable. Wisdom is knowing not to include it in a fruit salad. We hope you have enjoyed reading the Thinking Times and that these sheets have provided you with a moment or two each day of reflection. Thank you for all you have brought to the Jamborette - for your friendship, your skills, your culture, your enthusiasm. Safe travels and adventures in the days to come. Haste Ye Back.